National Fisherman

Paul Molyneaux

Editor

Paul Molyneaux is the Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman.

Author Archive

A Shinkei Systems machine, secured on the deck of the California black cod boat Brita Michelle, is owned by Shinkei and operated in partnership with the boat’s owner to produce high-quality seafood for the company. Shinkei Systems photo.

Robots on deck

Fishing vessels of all types, from Maine to Texas, are expected to benefit from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s plan to modernize its electronic reporting system for the East Coast. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Making the connection

Ten years after the introduction of it’s CSH8L Omni sonar, Furuno has launched the CSH10, with far more settings to optimize performance and the potential to be tied into the company’s TZTXL MFD. Furuno image.

A new way to see with Furuno’s Omni Sonar

The captain steers from the flying bridge as the 80-foot trawler Miss Kelley II, built in 1980 by Kelley Boat Works,heads down through a particularly narrow section of the Noyo River in Fort Bragg, Calif. Kelley Boat Works photo.

Boat of the Month: Miss Kelley II

Fisherman collect massive amounts of data, and can share with fishery managers. Rob Terry, founder of Seafood AI, believes they should get paid for it, with a cut of the premium prices earned by certified sustainable seafood. Seafood AI photo.

AI Innovations turn fisherman’s data into dollars

The Lubec Lost Fishermen’s Memorial was established in 2009, and the current Memorial Committee, made of three non-fishing community members, has drawn the ire of other residents for opting not to put the names of two fishermen on the sculpture. Liz Michaud photo.

Lost fishermen denied a place on Maine memorial

Noyo Net Works in Fort Bragg, Calif., helps keep boats as far away as Alaska fishing, offering everything from salmon gurdies to trawl nets, crab pots and more. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Gearing up at Noyo Net Works

Chris Estes, owner operator of the Mr. Ellis, put a nasty hole in his boat when he hit the rock jetty in Bob Sikes Cut on his way home to Apalachicola on the night of June 25. Estes got his young crew off quickly and now has the boat ashore and under repa

Mr Ellis is down but not out

An April 2025 proclamation by President Trump opened the waters between 50 and 200 miles around Johnston, Wake, and Jarvis islands, and U.S. fishermen are hoping the waters around the other monuments will also soon be open. Eric Kingma photo.

Reopening the Pacific Monuments

Among the last from a greatly diminished fleet of local boats in Patonga, NSW, Austrailia, the Van Der Neut brothers, Joshua and Dane, continue fishing their 38-foot trawler, Lindy, with help from their father, Thomas. Neutical Media photo.

Consolidation isn’t conservation